BACTA Names New CEO

BACTA Names New CEO

The British Amusement Catering Trade Association - BACTA, has appointed Roger Hayes - pictured - as group chief executive officer for BACTA and the ATEI Group. Mr Hayes will assume this role from mid-April 2004, succeeding the current chief executive Phil Jarrold. Mr Hayes boasts a long and distinguished career in public relations and government affairs and wide experience of dealing with business and trade bodies.

BACTA President Tim Batstone commented on the appointment and the new dual role that Mr Hayes is adopting. "We are delighted to welcome someone of Roger's professionalism and experience into the organisation. With huge change in prospect for the gaming industry over the next few years, we have taken the opportunity to make a very senior appointment with a much wider role. Roger will not only be responsible for BACTA, but for the associated ATEI (exhibition, publishing and conference) commercial companies. We are very excited at the chance this gives us to respond to and capitalise upon the challenges ahead in our industry." Mr Batstone said. "Roger's brief will be to work with the excellent teams at BACTA and at ATEI, broadly to build upon recent lobbying and commercial successes, and to ensure maximum delivery of our members needs and objectives."

Mr Hayes outlined his initial thoughts on the appointment, "I am very excited at the opportunity to join such a vibrant industry. BACTA/ATEI are fantastically well positioned to take advantage of all the change ahead and I look forward to bringing my energy and experience to bear and assisting the strong team already in place at BACTA House. I am also very much looking forward to meeting BACTA members and other key stakeholders in the industry over the coming weeks and months."

The appointment marks a new direction for the association as it heads towards the onset of a new Gambling Bill.